CUPERTINO, California — Apple on Wednesday unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, priced from $1,999 and shaped like a passport, as new CEO John Ternus made his debut at the company’s biggest hardware showcase of the year, Reuters reported.
The Duo opens to a 7.6-inch inner display and carries a 5.4-inch outer screen, both sharing the same aspect ratio so content scales between closed and open modes. Apple said the open device is its thinnest iPhone yet, powered by the A20 Pro chip, with dual-battery architecture and a custom hinge intended to feel familiar in one hand.
Ternus framed the launch as a productivity bet, showing multitasking, video calls and side-by-side apps on the larger canvas. He also criticized rival foldables as awkward for everyday scrolling and viewing, arguing Apple’s delayed entry would set a new standard rather than chase an existing niche.
Analysts have long said Apple’s arrival could expand foldables beyond early adopters. IDC expects Apple could take roughly 40 percent of the foldable phone market by the end of next year if it can supply demand. Samsung, which pioneered the category in 2019, has stepped up marketing as it defends leadership, especially in North America.
Pre-orders are set to open October 16, with retail availability from October 23 in more than 70 countries, according to Apple’s announcement and follow-on coverage. The company also showed iPhone 18 Pro models starting at $1,199 and $1,299, new AirPods with noise cancellation from $129, and Apple Watch updates focused on health tracking.
Apple shares closed slightly lower after the event. The commercial test will be whether shoppers pay nearly $2,000 for a form factor Chinese rivals and Samsung have sold for years — and whether Ternus can turn privacy-centered on-device AI into a durable differentiator.
